Corrado Rustici
Deconstruction Of Postmodern Musician

THE REVIEW

Corrado Rustici, for those who don't know, needs little introduction as he has been highly appreciated, regarding his musical proposals, in the States, as well as being the producer for some of our homegrown talents, Negramaro (belah!), Elisa, and Claudio Baglioni, just to name a couple at random.

After 11 years from his first work, he returns with this second album "Deconstruction of....." with a lengthy title, with the truly challenging task of proving to the entire world the skill of the Neapolitan guitarist who does not want to present himself as a guitar hero of our times but as a "deconstructed postmodern" artist, meaning, no longer as a producer but as a musician in the broadest sense of the term.

And it is already the opener "Eros" that makes us dream and shows us the most "danceable" side of Rustici. An excellent instrumental dance track, really well constructed with its phrases and solos. However, the album is not a concentrate of instrumental compositions à la "Joe Satriani", just to be clear, but alternates purely instrumental pieces, where the guitarist wants to highlight his skill and technique, with sung pieces where the "guest stars" make the difference, like in the subsequent "Rage And Dust" sung entirely by Elisa and her wonderful voice, which blends well with the melodies built by Rustici's guitar.

And so it goes on with another instrumental "Lazarus Pain" with calmer tones to the very sad "Maledette Stelle" sung by Negramaro who manage not to give me diarrhea. It might be the magic and the atmospheres created by the artist who conducts the orchestra from the bass, I don't know, but I manage to appreciate the intervention of a group I have always hated in an album of wonderful rock-pop music; music that delights us with "Bodega Boy" where the guitar seems to talk and whistle along with the choruses" but doesn't always manage to maintain the excellent standards. Spoiled by now by the first five compositions, it falls a bit into self-indulgence when listening to an instrumental like "Tantum To Blind", really too technical, almost as if to prove "I am really good, not just bao bao, micio micio!"

But it's okay like this, after all, the song isn't bad. Just like the entire album. No need to proceed with an entire track-by-track because the standard is this. You will find, therefore, illustrious names (besides the already mentioned Negramaro and Elisa, there are Allan Holdsworth, Fabio Properzi, and Paul Mccandless) all intent on giving that extra touch of magic needed to turn an excellent album into a marvelous auteur album.

To be listened to alone in your room, with your thoughts, as it contains great reflective gems.

An excellent example of our homegrown music. A must-have.